Former Olympic and world champion Hidehiko Yoshida said Tuesday he will retire from competitive judo after this month's All-Japan championship.
Yoshida, winner of the men's 78-kg gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Games, made the announcement after a practice session for the upcoming open championship at Nippon Budokan on April 29.
Asked about his future, the 32-year-old said he will quit the Nippon Steel judo team and also step down as manager of the Meiji University team to "take a rest for a while."
After his success in Barcelona, Yoshida failed to win an Olympic medal in Atlanta in 1996 and in Sydney four years later.
He announced his retirement from international competition last November.